CATS SVX 450 PURPOSE BUILT?

[BIG BORE 365]

Im curious if anyone knows what features make this a purpose built? does anyone know? I don't see anything on the bike side of things that really make it a purpose built. I know cat has not released much info on the machine but hoping someone got an inside scoop.


-I see a skid plate...(YAY)


-I see where you would mount a stock front caliper (why not use 2 right had forks...)


-Probably one of the oldest sets of acerbic hand guards (NO wind protection...)


-I THINK they are running 2 brake levers one hand one foot (COOL)


I don't wanna bash this kit but I want to know why this is a purpose built? Especially now that CAMSO is making the kit for other bikes.... Can I throw a ts kit on a 450xc-f and throw away the wheels and call it a THE SECOND PURPOSE BUILT SNOWBIKE!!?

 

[wwillf01]

If water stays out if the oil.. Temps stay constant, hand warmers are dependable valved correctly , ECU is mapped right I would call it a win.... At this point.. I bet the 2nd version has a ton of changes

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[mnsnowhawk]

The only reason the bike is being made like this is to make it legal for trail riding in Minnesota. The machine needs to be originally made for snow use to be legal in Minnesota. Hopefully the law gets changed soon and this will screw over this concept.


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[BIG BORE 365]

that would make sense!
but is the market that big in Minnesota for a oem to go out and spend big $$ on a machine that's truly built for 1 state...?????? I don't know this entire thing seems odd to me. I really hope they have big changes for a version 2. There are so many upgrades that can be made to make this a purpose built machine. But I just don't see it here....

The only reason the bike is being made like this is to make it legal for trail riding in Minnesota. The machine needs to be originally made for snow use to be legal in Minnesota. Hopefully the law gets changed soon and this will screw over this concept.


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[capulin overdrive]

Who knows?




Ski looks interesting, but also looks like it could be grabby?




Track paddles look deferent, and isn't it a single middle driver instead of 2?




But yea, not a 300lb 150hp rocket ship like we want.

 

[Bedhead]

Its still a Sherco 450 bike with a camso kit on it. I wonder if keeping the wheels and selling as only a snow bike is enough in MN? A loop hole maybe?

 

[AZ800]

Well that's the first reason that sounds right for Cat to be building an OE Snowbike.....to get around MN regs.
Since NONE of the machine is actually Cat they didn't have to spend anything to get this project off the ground and a guaranteed large (by comparison) order of bikes and kits from sherco and camso prolly got them decent volume discount.
Now Cat can claim first OE Snowbike on the market! Good advertising there.
They can appeal to mn riders and to those that aren't mechanics, rather just riders. Which coming from the Midwest, is a lot of riders.
At the same time, if it performs well, sherco and camso get free positive advertising as well to boost their minuscule shares of the North American market.
I slammed Cat in a prev post as being a dumb idea, but knowing Cat is poor at advertising and lacking in market share, this may be a smart calculated low cost low risk boost to their bottom line with no real downside for them even if it tanks.
(Still can't see trail riding a Sno Bike all winter bar hoppin in WI???? But they'll sell enough of them to trekking riders before that market realizes they suck for trail riding)
Some guys up north and northeast will get their use off trail though, the one out of 3 years it snows good in the flat lands!)

 

[hd4rob]

cat holds the patent on skid.

 

[BIG BORE 365]

cat holds the patent on skid.

are you sure? Camso is releasing their own skid so I would assume they have the patent? and licenced it to cat?

 

[BIG BORE 365]

Well that's the first reason that sounds right for Cat to be building an OE Snowbike.....to get around MN regs.
Since NONE of the machine is actually Cat they didn't have to spend anything to get this project off the ground and a guaranteed large (by comparison) order of bikes and kits from sherco and camso prolly got them decent volume discount.
Now Cat can claim first OE Snowbike on the market! Good advertising there.
They can appeal to mn riders and to those that aren't mechanics, rather just riders. Which coming from the Midwest, is a lot of riders.
At the same time, if it performs well, sherco and camso get free positive advertising as well to boost their minuscule shares of the North American market.
I slammed Cat in a prev post as being a dumb idea, but knowing Cat is poor at advertising and lacking in market share, this may be a smart calculated low cost low risk boost to their bottom line with no real downside for them even if it tanks.
(Still can't see trail riding a Sno Bike all winter bar hoppin in WI???? But they'll sell enough of them to trekking riders before that market realizes they suck for trail riding)
Some guys up north and northeast will get their use off trail though, the one out of 3 years it snows good in the flat lands!)

I love trail riding my Yeti kit. But I do not like trail riding my Timber..... I guess it depends where their kit fits in. Cat had to spend some money on R&D but you make a good point that sherco probably helped a bit and Im sure Camso paid a larger amount then anyone. You may be right that it was low risk low cost for big advertising.... even if its a garbage kit its been talked about and seen by many!

 

[ArcticChat]

Well that's the first reason that sounds right for Cat to be building an OE Snowbike.....to get around MN regs.
Since NONE of the machine is actually Cat they didn't have to spend anything to get this project off the ground and a guaranteed large (by comparison) order of bikes and kits from sherco and camso prolly got them decent volume discount.
Now Cat can claim first OE Snowbike on the market! Good advertising there.
They can appeal to mn riders and to those that aren't mechanics, rather just riders. Which coming from the Midwest, is a lot of riders.
At the same time, if it performs well, sherco and camso get free positive advertising as well to boost their minuscule shares of the North American market.
I slammed Cat in a prev post as being a dumb idea, but knowing Cat is poor at advertising and lacking in market share, this may be a smart calculated low cost low risk boost to their bottom line with no real downside for them even if it tanks.
(Still can't see trail riding a Sno Bike all winter bar hoppin in WI???? But they'll sell enough of them to trekking riders before that market realizes they suck for trail riding)
Some guys up north and northeast will get their use off trail though, the one out of 3 years it snows good in the flat lands!)

That is not quite the case. Yes they partnered with Camso but it's not like they did nothing to design it. They developed the skid concept it's their patent as stated above.

http://www.freshpatents.com/-dt20150618ptan20150166143.php

 

[capulin overdrive]

Are we ever gonna get any info from Cat or Camso on the bike and kit?




Seems really stupid for them to miss out, while folks snowcheck other brands!

 

[Norma Stitz]

Im curious if anyone knows what features make this a purpose built? does anyone know? I don't see anything on the bike side of things that really make it a purpose built. I know cat has not released much info on the machine but hoping someone got an inside scoop.


-I see a skid plate...(YAY)


-I see where you would mount a stock front caliper (why not use 2 right had forks...)


-Probably one of the oldest sets of acerbic hand guards (NO wind protection...)


-I THINK they are running 2 brake levers one hand one foot (COOL)


I don't wanna bash this kit but I want to know why this is a purpose built? Especially now that CAMSO is making the kit for other bikes.... Can I throw a ts kit on a 450xc-f and throw away the wheels and call it a THE SECOND PURPOSE BUILT SNOWBIKE!!?

Just by virtue of it being delivered without wheels makes it a purpose built snow machine in the most simplistic sense of the term. As a total newb, and an outsider to the whole sport it looks like they are going to try to do what y'all are already doing but offer it as a package for less $. Good idea really. And totally legitimizes the sport in my view. Unless it is really just for sales in Minnesota which would seem like a lot of work for one states worth of sales.

 

[burnz]

I'm going to be shocked if the cat lasts more then 3 years if that. is there even any actual info out on the thing yet? and can it even be spring ordered? just my $0.02 seems like they've advertised it terribly

 

[BIG BORE 365]

Just by virtue of it being delivered without wheels makes it a purpose built snow machine in the most simplistic sense of the term. As a total newb, and an outsider to the whole sport it looks like they are going to try to do what y'all are already doing but offer it as a package for less $. Good idea really. And totally legitimizes the sport in my view. Unless it is really just for sales in Minnesota which would seem like a lot of work for one states worth of sales.

You make a good point. The conversion aspect of the sport my be overwhelming for new comers, I guess if you really want to buy an out of the box machine this is for you. I guess for most of us who are already in the sport by modifying dirt bikes its not a big deal to do it again. But you make a good point. I don't think cat hit a home run here but the more I talk to people about the machine the more I see a market for it. Small market IMO but they will sell some for sure.

 

[madmax]

The bike they showed at the dealer show was a very pre-production model. I'd call it a pre-pre-production. The official release is scheduled for sometime next fall with very limited quantities available for 2016-17 season. From what I understand the camsno kit will be a available in the western Powersports catalogs next season as well.

 

[capulin overdrive]

Any news on this thing yet?

 

[kyle.B.]

There is supposed to be about 70 prototype units for this coming season. That will be distributed to dealers somehow. And then they are supposed to be snowchecking them next spring. Had to deal with more emission stuff or licensing stuff I believe.

 

[AZ800]

There is supposed to be about 70 prototype units for this coming season. That will be distributed to dealers somehow. And then they are supposed to be snowchecking them next spring. Had to deal with more emission stuff or licensing stuff I believe.

Well then Cats dumber than I gave them credit for in my previous post!
What's there like 5 legit kit mfg and as many bike mfgs all churning out competitive well thought out product? And Cat won't have em for sale to the public for another year?
Anyone who took hi school auto repair shop class can put a kit on a dirt bike and be on the snow by the end of the day. Cat will now have 2 whole years of "wait for this cool new product." (That is now old hat and not even the best combo to go with last year, much less next year.....)
FAIL, again Cat!
It's a 4s bike for cripes sakes. They didn't think or are having trouble fitting it into their average emissions output compliance?

By the time they mainstream them, the 2020 models from all the real Sno bike kit mfgs will be out and it'll still be slower than my Old YZ450!

 

[jprdave]

Last I heard they were having problems getting snowmobile certification. High/low headlight, noise, brake light/taillight. This would allow them to be registered as a sled in states like Mn and Wi. As of right now they cannot be legally ridden in either of those states(and I am sure more). I personnaly know several people that would own a snowbike if they were legal in the midwest. I'm hoping the concept takes off and more manufacturers start building factory snowbikes!!